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Mandrake Bar & Bistro
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges American (New), Lounges [Edit]
252 Cabot StBeverly, MA 01915
(978) 922-0663
- Nearest Transit:
-
Cabot St @ Essex St (451)
Cabot St @ Federal St (451)
Cabot St @ Pond St (451)
- Hours:
Tue 4 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Mandrake Bar & Bistro
Review Highlights
"The sweet potato fries were AMAZING."
(in 5 reviews)
"Duvel, Chimay, Ipswich Ale, etc) The best part of their..."
(in 2 reviews)
"They start every meal off right with these fun spicy chips."
(in 3 reviews)
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43 reviews in English
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Review from erin s.
Saugus, MA
9/15/2011
Got one of the http://restaurant.com coupons to try this restaurant. They took it no problem, no questions asked. They did add gratuity to the check...FYI.
The martini list is creative and they are all under $10, which is not something you see often.
The food is decent..I had a chicken, hummus, and spinach wrap and my husband had at pasta dish.
The dessert, which we split with friends was really yummy, it was fried dough topped with ice cream, fudge, and whipped cream.
The service left something to be desired but it didn't impact too negatively on the whole experience. -
Review from Chelsea P.
Beverly, MA
9/9/2011
Go for the martinis, and stay for the martinis. And potato chips. And mussels.
Mandrake is walking distance from my apartment (+25 points), has very cool decor (+15), has incredibly reasonably priced (and tasty) drinks (+10), has a lot of seafood on the menu (+8), and makes pretty decent food (+5). What's not to like? -
Review from Mulysa M.
Salem, MA
8/29/2011
I only give Mandrake 2 stars because their food is actually prepared well & the drinks (when made by a consistent bartender) are actually quite tasty. However, I would give *negative integer stars* for the service we have experienced. And if you read any of my reviews, you know that I'm hyper focused on customer service.
Perhaps my husband & I are optimistic idealists or just psychological masochists, because we have returned over the past 3 yrs that we have patronized Mandrake, despite being treated as if we were not "worthy" of patronizing their establishment.
I'd hate to think it's because I am heavily tattooed & violet tressed that gives them the notion that may be I am some unsavoury character who shouldn't even think to darken their doorstep and this gives them license to treat us in such a manner, but I can't help but think that when I met my husband there one evening...
[FYI: my husband is "corporate" - you know - well coiffed, wears stylish office attire, nice watch, nice shoes...looks like he could be any one of the executive types on "The Office"]....
I met him at the bar after work for an evening drink as we'd both had a hectic day. (Did I mention, I'm a Beverly business owner?) I happily took my seat next to him & waited for the bartender to come over (the bar was NOT busy. There were 6 other customers there in total besides us & all were taken care of.) He just looked at me, looked away & then started fiddling w/ items under the bar. I looked at him, made eye contact & gingerly lifted my hand to ask for service. He turned & walked to the back of the bar by the kitchen. I commented to my husband that I tried to get his attention, my husband saw this and then when HE saw the bartender emerge from the back, HE motioned for him to come over. He gave us the "one min" finger as he stood & chatted w/ a gentleman about the game on the TV & then came over. "Yeah?" he asked. I politely ordered my drink. He didn't even say: "Ok" - he just turned and went to walk away. The couple next to us, motioned for him & he went over, smiling & took their new orders. Soon he returned w/ their drinks all chipper & no drink for me. This was already 1/2 an hour into our visit. I motioned to him about the drink & he came over and asked: "What?" I asked: "May I have my drink?" Then he turned abruptly away, made the drink, placed it on the bar in front of me & walked away, as if it were a chore to serve me. My husband was appalled and livid.
Prior to my arrival, the bartender's attitude was VASTLY different when treating my husband than it was towards me. In fact he was polite & engaging with everyone at the bar - except me. I know that I am no Miss America but I'm also not some slovenly heap of white trash looking to dodge out of paying for a $10 cocktail. Even if I was some kind of slovenly character - if I am a paying customer who is politely ordering & enjoying a drink in that establishment, I would expect to be treated as a paying customer.
Other times we were ignored at the door after we walked in, only to leave after 5 min of waiting. We've been snubbed by the hostesses. Told that there were no tables available when there were tables open & empty. After eating next door, returned within 30 min & the tables were STILL empty. In fact, the restaurant was NOT busy at all. We've been forgotten & ignored by waitstaff. After reading all of the complaints I wrote in an e-mail to their "whoever receives their e-mail" person on their "contacts" via their website - I really felt foolish that we ever returned after all of these incidents. But again, that hopeful optimism surfaces when thinking of something "different" for dinner. (I have yet to receive a reply to my e-mail.)
I'm not going to lie, their food can be delicious, as can their drinks, but unless you are attired like one of the women in "Sex and the City" or one of the horribly dressed New Englandistas - you know, pink sweater tied over bright, crossing guard yellow Ralph Lauren Polo shirt your wife bought you at Marshall's, plaid shorts and bare feet in brown men's loafers (patent leather, I might add - with a heel), don't expect to be served or treated like a paying customer. I wish I had back every dime I spent in there, as well as the tips we gave, I'd have several Jimmy Choo handbags that I could set on fire for fun.
And by the way, the only wait person to have treated us kindly was Georgia. Thank you, you are a genuinely kind person. We appreciated you. Hopefully you won't be fired for having been nice to the "riff raff". No more referrals for you, Mandrake -
Review from Daniel S.
Beverly, MA
5/11/2011
I've come to the Mandrake many many times over the last few years. It's a regular haunt for me and my friend's and often accomodates the group of 10+ that I'll show up with on the weekends. It can be crowded during dinner hours, but most places are on Cabot St, so I don't mind waiting for a seat.
The atmosphere is cool. A large square bar takes up the center of the restaurant with tables or booths all around. They display local artwork on their walls, and it revolves every few months. The lights are set just right, and decorations are slightly gothish, which makes for a cool Drakula type feel. The music is always great too, no loud radio crap. It usually ranges from classic rock to ambient electronica or soft indie rock. They also have a few high def t.v.s around the bar if you want to catch whatever game is on.
I've come here so often that I've grown to know the staff quite well. The bartender Katrina is a sweet heart, and makes a great Martini. One of my favorites is the Flirtini, which I can't for the life of me order without being heckled by my friends. Luckily she knows me well enough that when I say "Katrina, bring me a manly drink because I am a man," she instantly knows that it's Flirtini time. Even if our group is seated at a table, she'll come over to say hi and ask us how we are doing. The rest of the staff are just as friendly too, (especially Georgia and Ashley, they rule!) and are very attentive.
The food and drinks are very good. I often get the cheeseburger/fries combo which I really like. The sliders are delicious. The apps are great too, especially the giant plate of nachos and muscles. I usually stick to the bar menu, so I can't comment on their pricier meals. I can say I've never had a bad meal there. The mixed drinks are well done, and they have a decent but small selection of craft beers. (Duvel, Chimay, Ipswich Ale, etc) The best part of their beer list is it's very cheap for the area.
Other thoughts: There's a huge parking lot out back, so don't feel that you have to fight for parking on Cabot St. -
Review from Annsley T.
Revere, MA
5/15/2011
I love this place! I have probably been here about 7-10 times and have never had a bad experience. The mussels are fabulous! Delicious sauce with nicely grilled bread. There is tasty lower priced bar food and ~$20 entrees. The dinners are worth the price, but the bar type food is just as good!
Me and my boyfriends request- bring back the Cuban sandwich!! Best one I have ever had! We used to switch off who ordered it until they took it off the menu a few months ago, but the food here is so good we still come here without it. I ordered the grilled swordfish special last night and it was cooked perfectly with very complimenting sides.
They have a good drink menu (Blueberry Lemongrass martini = A+) and a friendly staff. This is always a fall back restaurant when we are not sure where to go, because the food is always delicious! If they still had the sandwich my review would have defintiely been 5 stars ;) -
Review from Lenny D.
Newburyport, MA
3/17/2011
Ok...I didn't think I was ever gonna' find a joint that I hated more the the Hale Street Tavern, but I did. Me and the Missus met up with some friends for some beverages, then we stayed for dinner at the bar.
Damn...the blonde bartender was the most rude and nasty wait-person I've ever run up against. She ignored our gang most of the night and I saw her taking a break, sitting in a booth several times, while some of the dudes in my group ran dry on beers and were actually thinking about just pouring their own.
The dinner was terrible...my burger was a tiny little hubcap of dried up stuff, but the fries were good. The missus had some crab something, but she said it was too fishy.
Ah, well...another bust on the northshore...how do places like this even stay in business? They ought to let me run one of these places...the place would be jammed ever night..probably not with the clientele they want, though...
AND, to make things worse, not one lady even resembling a biker chick was to be seen...pretty sure me and Missus were the only ones sporting jeans...and I even wore my clean, dress-up pair, too.
Ride safe. -
Review from Adelle D.
Danvers, MA
6/28/2011 1 photo
I had heard so much about this place working downtown in Bev, and had only been in for drinks, so my husband & I tried it. We ordered a bottle of champagne and calamari to start. The calamari came out looking delish, and we dug in. Only 3 small pieces in, we are both fishing around the plate of the hot pepper rings that came with it, looking for calamari, since it all looked the same and blended together. That was it. Three tiny bites and no more. I was really disappointed. On a seperate occassion, I complained to the chef about it and was promised a calamari plate on the house...come to find out he doesn't work there anymore : \
We ended up sharing the GIANT seafood stuffed lobster that night as our entree, which was excellent. No complaints on that one, as it made up for the stingy app.
The service was alright. Our waitress didn't check up on us as much as we liked (or needed). And I must say, one of the bartenders has quite an attitude everytime I've been in. Not only with her co workers, but towards me and other patrons for absolutely no reason either.
Overall, I like the dark setting and cozy feel of Mandrake, and I would probably go back for after work drinks, but definitely not for dinner. -
Review from Misty S.
10/15/2010
Went here with hubby tonight and I probably won't go back unless it's to the bar.
I think the problem with this place is that it's trying to be something that it isn't. "Entrees" were priced between $17 and $24 and were not remotely worth that price. Honestly, I've had better at the 99 down the street in Salem. If this place stuck with the pub food and the drinks it would probably get more stars.
Unfortunately most of my food was not good. I had high hopes at the beginning- started off with a decent spicy black bean soup (though the sour cream was hidden at the bottom which was weird). The spicy chips were also good. Hubby liked his clam chowder.
However, when the entrees came out it went downhill. I got the Scallops with mashed potatoes and veggies. I basically never leave food on my plate, and I left 4 of 5 scallops untouched. They tasted metallic and like they had nail polish remover on them at some point. I think that the wine that they baked them in was bad. They were horrible. The potatoes were awfully bland, and the veggies were basically drenched in the same bad wine that was on the scallops so I didn't eat them either. Basically I paid $20 for an entree and ate half a cup of bland mashed potatoes.
I would maybe come back to try the bar food, but would not recommend the entrees at all. -
Review from Chris M.
Salem, MA
Updated - 11/18/2009
Yup. No frickin way. Not even just for drinks anymore.
There were 3 bartenders working that evening. Bartender #1 was unfriendly to put it politely and borderline condescending with our drink choices. Bartender # 2 who unfortunately not the one was helping us seemed very personable. Bartender # 3 just sucked. My drink from bartender #1 was not good. For someone who was so snippy about what kind of booze we were getting, I would have expected a decent drink. Once I choked down my gross drink (which tasted like oranges but there was not supposed to be any orange flavored booze in it) and looked around for someone to help me with a bottled beer (you can't f that up right?) there was no one to be found. Bartender 3 finally came over but was a total dank and by that time our table was ready so thanks but no thanks.
This place has so much potential. This was my last try. Food again was not very good. Our burger lacked flavor and texture and was brutally overcooked. The calamari tasted like I was sucking on a super ball.
Just a note, our server at our table was extremely nice and very attentive. Our hostess was also very personable and accommodating.Listed in: Places that make me go…, Hey Dick
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/18/2008
I came back to Mandrake mainly because the bar opens at 4. Sometimes around 2PM when I am sitting in… Read more »
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Review from jason T.
Newburyport, MA
1/21/2009
I have come and gone to the Mandrake several times on my trip back to Mass from California when I visit. My friends all live close by and we can walk there. So we go there out of convenience not because we like the place.
It's ok. It is very dim lit and several shades of maroon inside and makes you feel like you are in Drakula's pantry. The crowd is 45-55+ yrs. of age. It is also VERY cold in there, I suggest wearing a jacket if you are with 30 feet of the front door.
It has been a while since I had a drink but when I was drinking I do remember my gimlet being very small and I had to order about 6 of them to catch a buzz. I ate the there other night and had ravioli and it was drowning in a garganzola sauce and it was kind of gross. They should have called it it Garganzola soup with ravioli inside.
However the diet cokes I had recently were fantastic! -
Review from Hungry C.
Beverly, MA
2/8/2008
We keep coming back to Mandrake because it is our favorite room in town. It's a deep, dim and cozy space, and the booths are snug and private. Even seated adjacent to the bar, we've never felt intrusive or intruded upon. Also, it helps that their signature Mandrake martini is my favorite. Lately, we've been recognized upon being seated, and our drinks have arrived without us having ordered them, and this is endlessly endearing.
The food, though. Well. Our experience can best be characterized as uneven. When we first started going to Mandrake in summer 2007, we enjoyed terrific food, including the Kobe beef burgers with sweet potato fries and we loved the salty pot stickers with mango slaw. Some nights the food was just perfect, but on other nights, not so perfect. We continued to visit Mandrake through the fall of 2007, eventually enduring enough bad dishes that we soon vowed never to return. For example, I had a half crispy duck and cucumber salad that was so burnt I sent it back and sulked for three days. Mrs had pulled pork sandwiches on the world's driest brioche and the pork had an aftertaste of pan scorch.
In December, though, we decided to give it another try. Surprise of surprises, we had a fabulous meal, including one of the best filets I've ever eaten. When I commented on this to our waiter, he mentioned that there had been some turnover in the kitchen and that the old chef had come back after having been away briefly (presumably, during the time of the crispy duck folly). That was good enough for us. We continue to visit Mandrake. Despite that the old chef is back, the food can still be inconsistent, but it's right often enough that it's worth taking a chance.
***02/13/08 - Update: the Mandrake martini is now known as the Corpse Revival. -
Review from Topher D.
Salem, MA
6/13/2011
Good draft selection, excellent service, solid food for a variety of palletes. I'm a fan.
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Review from Jay B.
North Andover, MA
9/27/2009
Bar was fine, but the food was truly weak.
The "Steak Frite" was drowned in coarsely chopped garlic, and the "frite" were mushy potato wedges. The "Gaspacho" was nothing but chopped tomatoes, chopped carrots, and no flavor, and it wasn't a soup; more like a Salsa Fresca. Even then it didn't have much flavor.
The Chimay was good....
The waiter was a master at avoiding eye contact, and service was truly weak.
Just Say No to the food. Go to hang out at the bar. -
Review from fraulein v.
Salem, MA
6/1/2009
I have tried to like this place on two occasions, both with a pal, both times said never again. The bar is laid out nicely. Always a seat, and you can catch a game without standing around crowded like Soma. The drinks are fine, no problems. Its the food that kills me. The plus side is the chips, they are great. They are great with the selection off beers and are really rustic and perfectly seasoned.
The Calamari was probably the worst Iv had as a Englander for over 25 years. Dozens of rings, identically nickel sized with a side of frozen tarter and Tabasco, no tentacle's. They looked as if they came out of a frozen bag, fried, and poured onto a plate in a very unimaginative way. I have had a few other items that were mediocre. I will come again for the drinks and chips, that's it. -
Review from Erin C.
11/7/2008
I've been here a few times before a show at the North Shore Music Theatre. What a great little spot to have a bite to eat and a nice glass of wine!
They start every meal off right with these fun spicy chips. Those suckers are addicting! The spinach and artichoke dip is a nice starter too.
The tomato and fennel soup is just so nice and creamy. I find myself thinking about it at work sometimes. Pair that with the grilled cheese and I feel like the happiest 5th grader around.
This time I tried out the nicoise salad. The dressing didn't have much of a taste as I would like and was a little too much for my taste, but overall it was a yummy pick.
Although I've never ordered the sweet potato fries, I have eaten them off of every single person's plate and they are fantastic.
Service was great, prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is perfect. Great pick! -
Review from J S.
Nahant, MA
Updated - 9/12/2010
I have to stop reviewing restaurants after only one visit. I promise not to do this again.
I ordered the Cuban Panini again, and instead of big chunks of smoked pork falling out of an overstuffed sandwich like last time, my panini consisted of ham and a tiny amount of pulled pork with barbeque sauce. Not acceptable. Dear Chef: If you are out of the required ingredients for an item on the menu, let me know and I will order something else. I know what a Cubano is supposed to look like, and this wasn't it. On top of that, there was so little of the pork that I had to peel the panini open to verify that it actually existed. On a positive note, the coleslaw was delicious.
The baked haddock and baked scallops that my companions ordered were decent. I was impressed by the julienned vegetables, and they were as tasty as they were pretty.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2010
Let me begin by saying I'm giving this place only 4 stars because I've only been once. But my… Read more »
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Review from Mary B.
11/16/2009
I'm kind of a sucker for a fancy, unique atmosphere and Mandrake has it in spades. Chandeliers overhead, bright colors popping everywhere, modern artwork gracing the walls, and the dark wood bar had me swooning. I'd been here for drinks before last winter (psst, Ipswich Ale on tap) but only recently got to try the food.
We started with the butternut squash and cheese fritters. They were basically huge hush puppies made of squash and cheese, with a whole-grain mustard dipping sauce. These are all things I adore on their own and they came together in sweet, sweet harmony. $9 was a bit steep but I'd gladly pay it again.
I got the mac and cheese for my entree, without ham and mushrooms please, grilled chicken and peas can stay. Especially you, peas ;) It was very good, and huge. I got 3 meals out of that puppy, and for $19 I was glad it went so far. Others enjoyed their meals, I thought the flatbread pizza was small but it was one of the cheaper items on the menu and you can get crispy eggplant as a topping. U-nique! I sampled the sweet potato fries too and they were banging.
Our waiter was friendly and the water glasses never went empty. It's kind of expensive for Beverly and some of the portion sizes seem off but all in all, I love the Drake. LOVE the Drake!
http://vodpod.com/watc... -
Review from Mark M.
Beverly, MA
9/21/2010
I can't stop eating the lump crab cakes with mango salsa. Yum.
Staff are totally cool and friendly. -
Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
7/13/2007
I've eaten here a couple of times. . .both on Friday night. I like the atmosphere, and for the most part service has been fine. Not inspired, but fine.
The first time, I really enjoyed the chicken I had - very tasty, and there was a good dip for the bread. Last time I found the dishes to be "trying" too hard - I had an oyster special appetizer last time I was there - a kind of bouillabaise. It seemed super heavily seasoned and there was a weird bitter aftertaste. I also got the house martini, and thought it was pretty forgettable -
and the lobster cakes were tasty, but had huge chunks of dough where it seemed the seasoning hadn't reached -
I will go if invited, but not sure I'll make an effort to go again - I think there are places to get more bang for your buck in Beverly. -
Review from Colleen B.
North Waltham, MA
10/4/2008
A lawyer, an accountant and a landscaper walk into a bar...can the food and drinks please all of their palates? YES!!!
From the pub potato chips to the grapefruit martini's and even the best grilled cheese ever, the random group I listed above also known as my family were raving about this place. We're also a group still in mourning the loss of our grandfather/father so we can eat and drink with the best of them--and we did!
The spinach artichoke dip was crackiliscious and so were the pita-whatever things that accompanied it. Here's the deets on the rest of the food we filled our pie holes with:
Grilled Cheese and tomato soup=awesomeness (they only had one grilled cheese at the end of the night...what does that tell ya?)
Open faced meatball sliders=we lucked out that they were out of the one of the two grilled cheeses we ordered so we got to try this tasty treat as well
Kobe burgers with bacon, onions and sweet potato fries=the best sweet potato fries eva!
Steak salad=more than generous portions of steak and yummy salad.
The decor was lush and the service was friendly. Go...what are you reading this review for.... -
Review from Lyndsay B.
Columbus, OH
Updated - 2/27/2010
I have since been back several times, as my group of friends likes to hit the bar here from time to time. The raspberry mojito is wonderful! So many raspberries!
I haven't tried the food again (they shut down the kitchen pretty early), so I can't comment on that.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/7/2006
I have eaten dinner at Mandrake. The atmosphere is inspired: very cool, hip, trendy, urban.… Read more »
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Review from Shaun P.
Salem, MA
5/21/2010
Went here on Friday night after reading one of my friends reviews and was very happy we went!
-We orders the Smoked Cheese & Butternut Squash Fritters A+
- I had the Tuna club which was a yellow-tail pan seared tuna w/ applewood smoked bacon on awesome bread. B+
-She had the flatbread pizza A-
- 3 Stella Artios beers
- 2 Glasses of wine
-Awesome spicy chips!
Total bill = $60
Total Experience= Priceless!
We will definitely be going back for more! -
Review from Marissa S.
Salem, MA
4/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I stumbled upon this place when trying to go to a different restaurant. The menu on the window pulled us in. Once inside, it was super charming. I almost felt like I entered a Moroccan restaurant or something. We were seated immediately and the waitress came right over. I ordered a "Good Life" martini - which included Bacardi and a few other rums and juices. The martini menu was great. I felt that it had many options.
We ordered the calamari app, it came out quickly and was very good. For entrees, I had the pulled pork sliders with the sweet potato fries and my husband had a cheeseburger with regular fries. The pork sliders were good but they were lacking in the sauce department. I think even with a small amount of bbq sauce or some sort of sauce they would have been better. The sweet potato fries were AMAZING! My husband ordered his burger well-done. When he took his first bite, he said "well done doesn't mean burnt". Overall, however, we felt the food was good. We skipped dessert. Our bill came to approx $42. We felt this was reasonable for 1 bar drink, a soda, an app and two entrees.
One other con, was that we were sat in a high-top table on the bar side, which was fine, until the guy about three seats down from us kept dropping the F-bomb every third word he said. The area was a bit tight and I think it was because we were so close that we could hear him so clearly. It really isn't the restaurant's fault that mr. potty mouth was sitting near us.
Overall, a good experience. We will definitely go back. -
Review from Queen G.
Peabody, MA
11/8/2009
Went there with a friend for dinner. I was surprised how expensive each dish was..come on, it's downtown Beverly, not Boston. My pasta dish with shrimp was aroumd $25.00. It was good, but not for the price.
It has a nice intimiate setting, nice place for a first date. Just stick with sitting at the bar and having a glass of wine. -
Review from Me B. M.
Reading, MA
7/12/2010
Been going to Mandrake for years. I always thought it had solid food and a nice enough atmosphere. But something has happened in the last year or so. The food is just not as good and unless I am lucky enough to have Georgia working my table, the service is dicey. Overly charred overdone meats, soggy salads, gloppy risotto....not a good scene at this point. I won't stop going; I just will hope they can get it together again.
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Review from shana d.
Apex, NC
9/17/2010
I used to work in downtown Beverly, and Mandrake was a favorite for introducing new friends or colleagues to the area. The high, pressed-tin tiled ceilings and immense dark wood bar are visually appealing, and the bartenders are always friendly and accommodating. My favorite part of Mandrake is the free, house-made barbecue chips they give in a cone with drinks. My friend Jeff and I used to take turns coaxing the bartenders to giving us more. I think they charge $3 for additional cones, but us cheapos (or charmers, or both) managed to save the three bucks for the tip or another beer if we had the time or the inclination.
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Review from Kat H.
Beverly, MA
3/3/2007
I think they were renovating or changing something the night we went there, because there was _nothing_ on the walls, which made it look odd to say the least. We were seated late at night, so we just perused the bar menu, which was pretty lengthy. We had the nachos to split, and while they were good, I honestly like the Wild Horse Cafe's nachos much better; our waitress was nice though, and the bread she served was excellent. Our little taste (and looking at the menu) made up our minds to come back for a full meal sometime. I liked the atmosphere a lot (even without the wall art) and because I'm such a kid, I just really, really liked staring at their changing color wall in the bar. I'm so easily amused.
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Review from Salvadore D.
Beverly, MA
1/6/2009
This place gets one extra star because it's where my gal and I went for our very first date. It has nice ambiance, and the service is not bad. The food is innovative and richly flavored. The mac-and-cheese is a good example. They've taken this classic comfort food and turned it into a gourmet feast with seafood and ham blended in a thick, rich cheese sauce. There are pomme frites which aren't on the menu, but are usually available if you ask. The downside here is the bar. While they tend to have nice wines, they seem pretty clueless about mixed drinks. Yes, my standards are high, and I'm picky, but I recommend ordering wine with your meal.
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Review from Christina P.
Beverly, MA
5/24/2007
i like the atmosphere of this place. i don't normally eat dinner here. i get a few appetizers because the menu is pretty pricey. plus a couple of appetizers to share with a friend is pretty much all you need. i think they have Stella Artois on tap which is a big plus for me. i love Stella and it is hard to find it on draft sometimes. every time i see Stella on draft i often think about yelling STELLA really loud like in the play "A Street Car Named Desire". but anyway back to mandrake, it is pretty good. but stay away from the mussels. I've had them a couple of times and they were good, but the third time i had them they were pretty stinky so i was afraid that i was going to get sick so i sent them back.
good drinks, good appetizers, nice atmosphere.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Jason A.
Swampscott, MA
5/4/2009
This is an upscale Beverly bar if there is such a thing. The drinks here are quite interesting and the small plates of bar food are delish. I ordered a martini as usual. I have to say it tastes exactly like a the one Bond had in thatt one movie, which I'm not a huge fan of but nevertheless I just had to try it. The mojito I had right after was great. All the while I also enjoyed the chicken dish(first day I had chicken in about a year) and the squid or was it octopus taco. The biggest plus here is that the staff is so nice (I'm not going to mention the little incident that occurred here...hahaha).
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Review from Jen K.
Beverly, MA
5/23/2008
YUM! had never had the food here..just the complimentary homemade potato chips at the bar (awesome) and the fried calamari (also awesome). Last week however my husband and I got dinner. He got the seafood mac n cheese which was ENORMOUS and delicious! I would definitely reccomend it -all different kinds of cheesee....mmmm...but you migth want to split it. I got the seared ahi tuna with a risotto that was fabulous. The tuna was done perfectly. We both cleaned our plates. I also like their beer selection (Chimay-yay!) and the fact that their martinis are reasonably prices, unlike some places in the are that charge $12 Boston prices. I would definitely reccomend Mandrake-great food!
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Little J.
Peabody, MA
6/13/2010
Man and I came here after a movie at the Cabot on a Saturday night. I went once for drinks, but um, don't remember. The place was pretty hoppin' and we waited at the bar for only about 5-10 minutes while the table was cleared (we had rezzies).
I love the ambience of the place. Darkly lit, very romantic, Jack Johnson playing. Bar was busy but not super douchey. Only thing is that it is FREEZING. I read that it was cold, but damn. Man had to run to the car to get his coat.
I got the halibut risotto special which was delicious and man enjoyed the pork sliders. We also had the olive spread appetizer ( I am forgetting the word and don't feel like looking it up), which was very good, but could have used more pita chips.
Our waitress was great even though we were being sickening sweet and lovey dovey. I would have understood if we got attitude but she called us sweet and adorable. Must have lknown that happy people leave big tips. -
Review from michelle d.
Danvers, MA
1/17/2008
I think that if you can get past the pretentious atmosphere and the over 30 dorky but craving to be cool set at the bar, the food is amazing! The wait staff, that only consisted of 2 bartenders, were right on top of the diners needs. The waitress made some good recommendations on wine and food, and everything was great. I would revisit this quiet little restaurant as a nice change to the regular tacky Beverly scene.
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Review from Brad D.
Beverly, MA
3/6/2009
Nice place. Good atmosphere.
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Review from David B.
Beverly, MA
11/28/2009
My whole family was together for the Thanksgiving holiday (three children 23, 21, 17) so my wife and I decided to take them out for an evening together. We were having 35 at the house for Thanksgiving so decided to have a nice relaxing meal where someone else cooked. We had no problem getting a reservation at Mandrake. My have just been due to it being the night before Thanksgiving.
This was one of the most enjoyable evenings in a while. We were able to enjoy our family time together. The food was very good. Everyone enjoyed their choices. I thought the wine list was excellent.
I will be going back again. -
Review from Lisa C.
Saugus, MA
1/5/2009 1 Check-in Here
This place tickled my fancy (yes, I said that)
A few friends and I went here on Saturday night for dinner & drinks to celebrate my friends birthday.
This block of Cabot Street feature store and shop fronts painted in matte black, looks totally sexy and awesome (even when you're drunk!)
When you walk through the front door, push the full-length fabric curtains aside and voila! Quaint, dark and mysterious. Ooooh, Ahhhh.
This place is covered in dark, heavy curtains, dark cherry wood, and beautiful chandeliers.
The menu was nice - plenty of bar-type appetizers to choose from. I actually wouldn't mind coming back here JUST to have appetizers and wine! Do they serve bread & butter? Yup. Do they serve amazing, homemade, fresh potato chips? YES YES YES!!! These things are to die for. When our server brought them over, I just smelled POTATOES...fresh, delicious, crispy, crunchy potatoes! lkjhkhujgfjytdlyg!! They really are that good. The bread can suck it. That comment came straight from my wicked Italian mouth, so you know the chips were good.
We also shared the spinach & artichoke dip, which sucker-punched every other lame excuse for a S&A dip I've ever tried (besides the fat-laden version I whip up on a regular basis) and the fried calamari, which actually rivaled the delicious dish at Tanner Tavern in Woburn.
I had a martini that I wasn't crazy about, but I am not a fruity martini girl, so I switched to Sam. Beer is my first love.
Anyhow - through all this love (and there's more love) I just have one tiny complaint..
My entree.
I ordered the steak tips paired with garlic mash and veggies. Okay..I LOVE steak. I mean I really really like it. Let's save my complaining for last shall we? Awesome.
The garlic mash was lskfjlekjrtwoietj!!!! (that means delicious) baby red potatoes, fluffy goodness. YUM! The veggies were stellar too! Asparagus was PERFECT, I gave my friend the beets though. I don't like vegetables that can double as a lipstick.
Ok, so about my steak. It had BBQ sauce on it! DAMNITTTTTTTTTTTT!! Not really a huge deal, but when I order something, I don't want it to come with a side of surprise. When I lived in Maryland, I discovered that they like to also put BBQ sauce on things. I am a real BBQ sauce snob. Sorry..If I'm paying $18 for a meal, I wanna know what I'm getting. The menu should have said "BBQ steak tips" I would have been better prepared for the BBQ-ness.
Honestly..it was still delicious. I understand that was probably a pointless complaint, but f you - this is my review. :)
So that's about it - nice place, I'll be back! -
Review from Rod S.
Middleton, MA
8/2/2007
Well since I've only eaten there once, ( and it was great), and stop after work to chat with a few regulars I love the atmosphere, deep, dark and elegant!
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Review from Nick B.
New York, NY
1/22/2008
I have been 4 times now one night for some nice jazz music and the other times for food. The steak tips were great had them twice. I went on new years eve and wasn't really impressed with the bartender or the small bar menu. But the other experiences have been great and the bar tenders were very helpful.
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Review from rebecca d.
Beverly, MA
1/29/2011
Great food and atmosphere. Went there twice in June 2010! Loved the menu, prices and service.
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Review from Lia M.
6/12/2006
I went here on a Friday night for a drink and appetizer and absolutely loved the place. I was there around 8, so it was still older people eating dinner. I don't know if there's a scene later on or night. You walk in through orange curtains and into a beautiful room with a wooden bar & booths and chandeliers. It's tiny in there. On the side of the bar facing the booths, there's a fiber optic screen that changes color. It's pretty cool. I think some of their food may be French inspired, but I was looking at the bar menu, which is pretty much American cuisine. I ordered the nachos, which were really good. I'm not really used to nachos being anything other than ok, but these were good. My only gripe with the food is that on the nachos, the toppings were not evenly spread. Salsa and cheese on top only, beans on one side only, that sort of thing. But still, once I rectified that, they were good. I sat at the bar, and even so, they gave us a basket of spicy potato crisps that I'm guessing were homemade. They were delicious. The bartenders were super friendly. There's a nice list of wines, beers, and martinis. Apps are around $7, martinis around $8. It's a really nice place and I can't wait to go back. Update, 5/2/2007: I finally ate dinner here tonight and it was good. I had the duck with the plum sauce, white rice, and mixed greens with Thai basil vinaigrette. The duck and the dressing on the greens were good. White rice is white rice. I liked the bread they served, though I didn't try the tapenade. My friend liked her steak tips. Portions are decently sized. Neither of us finished our meals. Our service was super friendly & attentive. Maybe because they've been reading these reviews, or maybe because it wasn't busy (maybe customers have been reading these reviews!). I would go back and eat. I don't reccommend the dessert, however. I had the Gimme Shelter a couple of weeks ago. Though I love the name, the dessert of fried dough topped with ice cream & chocolate sauce just wasn't that good.
